In The News
Business Lobby Sounded Alarm on Minimum-Wage Increase-Back in 2013
Jobless rate has actually dropped 3 percent since previous hike to $8.25 – but is $15 too high?
While Democratic legislative leaders and labor advocates want to raise New Jersey’s minimum wage to $15, business-lobbying groups warn that such a change would crush the state economy.
It wouldn’t be the big corporations that would feel the most pain, they say, but the downtown pizzeria and other small businesses throughout the state.
Why some N.J. schools could get less state aid in 2017
When New Jersey established a new school funding formula in 2008, state lawmakers promised that no school district would lose money right away.
The concept, known as hold harmless, ensured that every school district received increased state aid in the first year before potentially seeing a decline in funding based on future enrollment and demographic changes.
Outlaw inhumane leg-hold traps in N.J. for real
Letter
When the state attorney general, in 1985, said that the state's ban on hunters' and trappers' use of leghold traps on small animals was "absolute," "unambiguous," and applied to all "technical modifications," he meant it. Unfortunately, last year, council authorized the use of "enclosed foothold trap," which goes against the 1985 policy as well as the legislative intent of a 1984 law. These are still leghold traps.
Still Recovering, Three Years After Hurricane Sandy
Brian and Marian Salkin have always lived on the lower floors of their three-story home. Their daughter lived on the upper floors.
After the storm, the couple used their life savings and insurance money to repair their basement dwelling
But new elevation requirements are forcing them out of those lower levels. And they blame project delays on the very program New Jersey set up to help Sandy victims: the Reconstruction, Rehabilitation, Elevation, and Mitigation Program, or RREM.
Christie's veto of 'Leah's Law' shows disregard for state workers' lives
During his campaign to run for higher office, Gov. Chris Christie often liked to say how every life is precious.
It was galling to hear such chutzpah, especially since earlier this year Christie vetoed "Leah's Law" — a measure that would force the state to protect workers at the Division of Children and Families (DCF) by re-instating Human Services Police in the field and implementing safety measures. Christie's callous veto puts thousands of DCF workers at risk of injury or even death.
NJBIZ reveals Power 50 Health Care
How important is health care to the economy of New Jersey?
Consider these stats from the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development:
- It is roughly 7 percent of our Gross Domestic Product, contributing nearly $35 billion in 2012, which was the last year statistics were available.
- It has contributed approximately 200,000 jobs since 1990, more than double the total of all private sector employment.
- It paid employees in the sector more than $23 billion in 2013, or more than 12 percent of all wages paid.
Citing pension woes, S&P just cut N.J's credit outlook to negative
TRENTON — Standard and Poor's Ratings Services lowered its outlook for New Jersey from stable to negative Tuesday over concerns with the state's declining pension funding levels and growing retirement liabilities.
School funding concerns dominate South Jersey budget hearing
Gov. Chris Christie's proposed state budget for the upcoming 2017 fiscal year may call for every public school district to get a small boost in aid, but for many districts the increase is still far short of the millions more they should be receiving under the state's eight-year-old school funding formula law.
N.J. receives federal disaster declaration for January winter storm
WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama on Tuesday issued a disaster declaration for 17 New Jersey counties, making them eligible for federal aid to reimburse counties and towns for the cleanup of January's winter storm.
Gov. Chris Christie had requested federal help following the Jan. 22-24 storm, which brought up to 30 inches of snow, plus high winds and flooding, and left around 270,000 homes without power. High tides caused coastal flooding in the southern part of the state, contributing to beach erosion and damaging dunes.
The state said the damage cost was around $82.6 million.
Singleton bill could require Christie to reimburse taxpayers for security at political events
One of Burlington County's state lawmakers has penned legislation that could compel Gov. Chris Christie to reimburse the state for some of the costs of his travel and New Jersey State Police security.